Lyr Req: Take Me Back -and- Bob McKinney

Subject: Looking for a song: Take Me Back
From: GUEST,Dustin Laurence
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 09:11 PM

Mudcatters, while I'm visiting I have another question. I am looking for lyrics (if they exist) for a traditional song called "Take Me Back" (yes, I know there is a modern one with that title--that's not the one). I learned it from a Steve James book called "Roots and Blues Fingerstyle Guitar." Here is all the info he gives:

"The venerable "Take Me Back," a favorite of the ragtime era, is such a piece. It's been recorded by Texas greats Mance Lipscomb and Lemon Jefferson (who called it "Beggin' Back") and Memphis master Frank Stokes. Primal songster and one-man band Henry Thomas used its circular melody in his "Bob McKinney," and it bears a strong resemblance to other 19th century standards--notably "Creole Belles."

I very much enjoy playing this melody, and would like to have traditional words to go with it. If anyone knows either the "Take Me Back" or "Bob McKinney" lyrics, I'd much appreciate them.

Dustin

Subject: Lyr Add: TAKE ME BACK -and- BOB MCKINNEY
From: 12-stringer
Date: 28 Jan 03 - 11:03 PM

Goin' down Johnson Street, Bob McKinney was passing by
Goin' down Johnson Street, make trouble in the night,
Wasn't he bad? Wasn't he bad?

Bobby said to Ben Curtis, I'm bound to take your life
You have caused trouble, 'tween me and my wife,
Wasn't he bad? Wasn't he bad?

Bobby said to Marg'ret, Come to me, I said
If you don't come in a hurry, put a .38 through your head
Wasn't he bad? Wasn't he bad?

Bobby said to the high sheriff, Needn't think I'm goin' to run
If I'd had another load, me 'n you'd had some fun
Wasn't he bad? Wasn't he bad?

That's Bob McKinney, and as you may guess from its scansion, it is NOT to the same melody as Take Me Back! It's a standard blues ballad arrangement (first line in I, second line IV-I, third line V-I) but I can't think of another which has a particularly similar melody line.

From this, Henry Thomas segues into Take Me Back and (my copy of the record is a few miles away) maybe a clip or two of yet another song. Several of his performances are medleys of this sort. If you've never heard him, do yourself a favor and buy a CD of his music. (My favorite is Run Molly Run, followed closely by Fishing Blues, but all of his recordings are just wonderful. His guitar is just strumming, though he essays rudimentary knifeblade figures on some pieces but his quill-playing and vocals are a total delight to hear.)

I don't remember what lyrics Henry sings from Take Me Back, and the one I play is just a hodgepodge that may be closest to Mance Lipscomb than anyone else. It doesn't have much story. Sometimes it goes like this:

Oh my babe, take me back
Won't do nothing that you don't like.
I went down the railroad track
Beggin' my baby to take me back.
She turned around, two or three times
Take you back when you learn to grind
I got a girl, her name is Maude
Works down in the white folk's yard
She brings me chicken, she brings me a goose
She brings me cornbread till it ain't no use
Ain't but one thing that grieves my mind
My woman quit me in the summertime

You can improv this stuff forever, with the "Oh my babe take me back" lines thrown in as a chorus.

Subject: RE: Looking for a song: Take Me Back
From: GUEST,(Dustin Laurence)
Date: 30 Jan 03 - 01:36 PM

12-stringer,

Thanks, that's exactly what I was looking for. I really ought
to own a recording of it, but your words will do very well.
They might not be any one version, but they definitely have the
mark of traditional words!

Dustin